There's no debate that Phil Parker is one of the greatest defensive minds in the sport. Jay Hill is rising up the ranks and attempting to reach the level that Parker has been at for years under Kirk Ferentz.
Three games into Hill's Michigan football tenure, a case can be made that Hill has been more impressive this season for these main reasons.
3 reasons why Michigan's defense is better than Iowa's
The teams that Iowa have played are a combined 3-6
Northern Illinois, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa have scored just 13 points on Iowa's defense through three games, but only Iowa State is the school with a division 1 win. In fact, Iowa State has not scored more than 20 points against Iowa since 2017. Iowa lost four of its ranked matchups in 2025, but they only have two this season so far.
Michigan's opponents are 5-4, but clearly better than Iowa's light schedule. Iowa State is the only offense that registers near the top 50 in points scored. Iowa's own offense may be the best offense its defense has seen all year (in practice).
Iowa's defense has not defended a receiver with more than 10 catches on the season
Four receptions is the most that any defensive back for the Hawkeyes has given up in a game this year. Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan had 17 against UTEP and have 30 combined through three wins so far. Iowa's corners are rated in the top 20 of Pro Football Network's impact rankings, but so are Smith Snowden and Jyaire Hill. Iowa's Deshaun Lee and Jacob Wallace have let receivers gain more than 11 yards per reception, but only on four receptions.
Iowa's defense hasn't scored a point on Michigan's offense in 10 years
Michigan has won four straight over the Hawkeyes. The last time that Iowa beat Michigan was in 2016 when Jaleel Johnson recorded a safety on Wilton Speight.
Not that it matters now, but this matchup has the makings of a low-scoring affair that should be decided by who wins the line of scrimmage. Iowa's offensive line against Michigan's defensive line should determine the winner.
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